SEWE: We must confront bribery in public service head-on for a just, prosperous society

The recently released National Ethics and Corruption Survey (NECS) 2024 findings by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), revealing that graft cases in Kenya’s public offices involve giving and taking bribes at 52.1% and 41.9% respectively, paint a grim picture of a systemic disorder.

While disheartening, these findings are not surprising in a country where corruption has long been a stumbling block to fair and equitable development.

They demand urgent reflection and bold interventions to dismantle the entrenched culture of bribery that threatens to cripple public service, block progress, and betray the aspirations of the ordinary Mwananchi.

The fact that over half of the reported corruption cases involve citizens offering bribes highlights a troubling reality.

Many Kenyans feel compelled to pay for services that should otherwise be their right.

Whether it’s securing marriage certificates from the Office of the Registrar of Marriages, accessing healthcare in public hospitals, or navigating land transfer processes at land registries across the country, the expectation of a bribe has become an unwritten law.

On the other hand, cases of public officials soliciting bribes expose a predatory system where power and public service have become monetised, and integrity is as rare as a truthful Kenyan politician who lives up to his colourful and lofty campaign promises after assuming office.

Giving and receiving bribes thrive on mutual complicity, but the blame should not be equally shared.

Public officials who are entrusted with serving the public, guided by the Public Officers Ethics Act and code of conduct, hold a position of authority and responsibility.

When public officers demand or accept bribes, they enhance a culture of impunity that erodes public trust and normalises corruption.

Citizens, often desperate and cornered by a dysfunctional system, may feel they have no choice but to comply.

This dynamic creates a vicious cycle where both parties are trapped—yet it is Wanjiku, the ordinary Kenyan, not the public official, who bears the heavier burden of paying out of pocket for the very services funded by their taxes.

The research findings also raise a deeper question: why does bribery persist at such alarming levels? Part of the answer lies in systemic inefficiencies.

Cumbersome bureaucratic processes, low accountability, and inadequate pay for public servants create fertile ground for corruption to flourish.

When public offices are underfunded or understaffed, delays and bottlenecks incentivize ‘speed money’ to expedite services.

Similarly, low salaries for civil servants can foster a mindset where bribes are seen as a necessary supplement to income, an unfortunate justification that normalizes extortion.

These structural issues, however, do not absolve personal responsibility. The culture of bribery reflects a broader erosion of morality and ethical standards, where self-interest often trumps public good. To break this cycle, Kenya must adopt a multi-pronged approach.

First, streamlining public services through digitalization can reduce opportunities for bribery. E-government platforms, like the e-Citizen portal, have shown promise in minimizing human interaction in processes like license renewals or permit applications, but there is cause for worry going by recent reports by the Auditor General, Nancy Gathungu, who exposed a loss of Sh10 billion illegally collected through the e-Citizen portal.

Enforcement, too, must be uncompromising. Over the past few months, EACC has been in the news regularly, arresting and recommending prosecution of corrupt public officials caught taking bribes, including traffic police officers, County Government, and Pension officials, among others.

The strategy by the Commission CEO, Abdi Mohamud, of tackling corruption at service delivery points is a big relief to many Kenyans who agonize while seeking services in public offices.

If EACC continues to tackle both petty and grand corruption in equal measure, then the message that choices have consequences will be loud and clear to corrupt public officials.

Thirdly, public awareness campaigns can help shift societal attitudes.

Many Kenyans view bribery as a necessary evil, but campaigns highlighting its long-term costs, stunted development, unequal access to services, and eroded trust could foster a collective rejection of the practice.

Schools, churches, mosques, and community forums should emphasise integrity as a core value, building a generation that sees bribery as unacceptable rather than inevitable.

And finally, addressing the root causes requires tackling economic inequality. Fair wages for public servants, coupled with merit-based hiring and promotions, can reduce the temptation to solicit bribes.

Simultaneously, empowering citizens through better access to education and economic opportunities can lessen the desperation that drives bribe-giving.

NECS findings are not just a wake-up call; they present a timely opportunity to end bribery in public service.

By confronting the bribery epidemic head-on, Kenya can rebuild trust in its institutions and pave the way for a more just and prosperous society.

The path forward demands courage, accountability, and a shared commitment to change.

If we fail to act, the cost of corruption will continue to be borne by the most vulnerable, while the dream of a thriving Kenya remains just out of reach.

Writer is a Communications Consultant